Matters Characteristics According to Creator-Creations Comparative Approach in Describing the Impossible Attribute of Allah SWT ‘Mumāthalah li al-Ḥawādith’ in ‘Aqīdah al-Nājīn
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22452/afkar.vol28no1.12Keywords:
‘Aqidah al-Najin, anthropomorphism, Attribute of Allah, Islamic theology, Sheikh Zayn al-‘Abidin al-Fatani.Abstract
One of the core challenges in Islamic theology is articulating the absolute distinction between the Creator and the creation, particularly in relation to the divine attributes of Allah SWT While the Qur’an and Hadith affirm that Allah SWT “is unlike anything” (laysa ka-mithlihi shay’), theological disputes persist, especially from anthropomorphic sects such as the Mujassimah and Mushabbihah, who assert resemblances between God and His creation. This article critically examines the concept of mumāthalatuh li al-ḥawādith (the impossibility of Allah SWT resembling created entities) by employing a creator-creation comparative framework found in the classical Malay text ‘Aqīdah al-Nājīn by Sheikh Zayn al-‘Abidin al-Fatani. The central research problem addressed is to explicate how rational theological arguments can effectively negate any resemblance between Allah SWT and contingent beings, particularly matter. Methodologically, this qualitative study adopts a textual analysis approach, using the documentation method to extract and interpret key passages in ‘Aqīdah al-Nājīn. The analysis is guided by tools of Islamic theological reasoning such as dalīl ‘aqlī (rational argumentation), comparative ontology, and linguistic analysis of theological terminology. Several textual examples are examined, including the classification of jisim (bodies), ‘araḍ (accidents), and jawhar (substances), which are used to highlight the essential weaknesses of created entities in contrast to the necessary perfection of the Divine. The findings demonstrate that ‘Aqīdah al-Nājīn provides a structured theological rebuttal to anthropomorphism by showcasing the epistemological and ontological gaps between the Creator and the creation. Its use of comparative reasoning not only strengthens the argument against mumāthalatuh li al-ḥawādith but also reaffirms the principle of tanzīh, the transcendence and incomparability of Allah SWT. The study concludes that this approach, rooted in Malay theological heritage, offers a compelling model for contemporary discourse in Islamic theology.
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